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Gloucester 15
Designer: Rod Macalpine-Downie / Dick Gibbs  ·  Builder: Gloucester Yachts Inc.  ·  First built: 1987
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About the Gloucester 15

Named after the legendary Massachusetts fishing port, this 15-foot sailboat embodies the practical sailing traditions of New England's working waterfront. With limited specifications available in current records, the Gloucester 15 represents a category of smaller recreational sailboats designed for accessible day sailing and near-shore adventures. Given its compact size, this boat would be well-suited for protected coastal waters, harbors, and small lakes where maneuverability and ease of handling take precedence over speed or extended cruising capability. The Gloucester 15 likely appeals to beginning sailors, sailing instructors, or experienced sailors seeking a simple, no-frills boat for quick afternoon sails. Based on its naming convention and size class, the design probably emphasizes stability and seaworthiness over racing performance, reflecting the practical maritime heritage of its namesake fishing community. These characteristics would make it an excellent choice for sailing schools, yacht clubs offering introductory programs, or families wanting a manageable boat that can be easily launched and recovered. While detailed specifications remain elusive, the Gloucester 15 appears to represent honest, straightforward sailing in the tradition of New England's maritime culture, prioritizing reliability and ease of use over complexity.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 15.00 ft / 4.57 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 14.08 ft / 4.29 m
Beam 6.00 ft / 1.83 m
Max Draft 4.08 ft / 1.24 m
Min Draft 0.67 ft / 0.20 m
Displacement 600.00 lb / 272 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 150.00 ft² / 13.94 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Centerboard Dinghy
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Rod MacAlpine-Downie / Dick Gibbs
Builder Gloucester Yachts Inc.
First Built 1987
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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
33.79
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
5.93
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
2.85
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 5.03
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 301.86
How It Compares

vs. Oday 15 2, Precision 15 Cb, Vanguard 15

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Gloucester 15 ★
15.0 ft
Oday 15 2
14.9 ft
Precision 15 Cb
15.0 ft
Vanguard 15
15.3 ft
LWL
Gloucester 15 ★
14.1 ft
Oday 15 2
13.8 ft
Precision 15 Cb
13.8 ft
Vanguard 15
15.0 ft
Beam
Gloucester 15 ★
6.0 ft
Oday 15 2
5.9 ft
Precision 15 Cb
7.0 ft
Vanguard 15
5.5 ft
Displacement
Gloucester 15 ★
600 lbs
Oday 15 2
350 lbs
Precision 15 Cb
390 lbs
Vanguard 15
200 lbs
Sail Area
Gloucester 15 ★
150 sq ft
Oday 15 2
175 sq ft
Precision 15 Cb
130 sq ft
Vanguard 15
127 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Gloucester 15 ★
33.8
Oday 15 2
56.4
Precision 15 Cb
39.0
Vanguard 15
59.5
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Gloucester 15 ★
5.9
Oday 15 2
3.6
Precision 15 Cb
3.2
Vanguard 15
2.1
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Gloucester 15 ★
2.85
Oday 15 2
3.36
Precision 15 Cb
3.83
Vanguard 15
3.76
Hull Speed
Gloucester 15 ★
5.0 kts
Oday 15 2
5.0 kts
Precision 15 Cb
5.0 kts
Vanguard 15
5.2 kts
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